If someone is struggling with thoughts of taking their own life they often feel guilty or embarrassed. It’s sad that there’s a stigma in society that says if you’re in need of help or counseling, you’re messed up beyond repair. That needs to stop.

We need each other.

These are just a few of the issues covered in the new film from Living Waters called “Exit: The Appeal of Suicide.” As a Christian blogger, I was very interested in seeing it before the movie’s mass release on YouTube.

However, I must issue a caution. Viewer discretion is advised as some may find the subject matter too intense.

Cries For Help

Writing this article about the “Exit” movie brought back some memories for me of a former coworker who took her life. It happened years after I left that job, but I remember how shocking it was when I got the news.I’d gone to dinner with her (name withheld) and a few other friends a couple of times. I never even had a clue that she was struggling so much internally.

When someone commits suicide, they take the heart of their loved ones with them. I can only imagine the overwhelming grief her best friends and family went through as they prepared for her funeral.

A Timeless Struggle

Depression is not anything new. Reading through some of the Psalms in the Bible, for instance, you can picture King David’s emotional battle as he pleads for God’s mercy and forgiveness, yet he also praises God for the peace that only He provides.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!You have given me relief when I was in distress.Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! – **Psalm 4:1, English Standard Version, ESV.

Someone I greatly admire is Joni Eareckson Tada. She’s a Christian author, speaker, and also a talented artist among other involvements.

Joni was paralyzed in a diving accident right after high school and has lived as a quadriplegic ever since. To hear her speak, she knows full well the strongholds of depression and self-doubt firsthand. Through many years of painful struggles, including a bout with breast cancer, Joni remains an inspiration and a great example of courage and grace under fire.

We’ll start with this twirling Feather Starfish. I’d never seen one before until this video. Did you know this little guy even existed?

He’s stunning and graceful, but I’m glad I’m not a twirling Feather Starfish.

Too much twirling, and I would get awful tired.

The Mandarinfish Of Many Colors

The Mandarinfish has caught my fancy before. I’ve never seen one in person so I can only admire him from afar.

The Mandarinfish is quite the beauty, plus I think he knows it!

Created By God

**24 O Lord, how many are Your works!In wisdom You have made them all;The earth is full of Your possessions. – Psalm 104:24, NASB.

I bet you haven’t heard of the Nudibranch.

Mollusks inhabit the oceans throughout the world. Kinda cute to look at, but some of the species are toxic.

Remember the cute movie, “Finding Nemo?”

My husband and I just bought a couple of Clownfish for our home.

We nicknamed them “George and Gracie.” You wouldn’t believe the fun personality of these two. They see us peering at them through the aquarium glass, and they get very excited. Kind of like me when it’s almost dinnertime. 🙂

This next little guy cracks me up.

It’s a Peacock Mantis Shrimp.

I won’t even try to pronounce his classification name, Odontodactylus scyllarus. Okay, smarty pants, I know you just tried to say it. 🙂

Delightful Beasts

I couldn’t resist posting a few pics of sea creatures on the opposite end of the beauty spectrum.

Every day, we have the potential to encourage someone, or the power to bring them down.

Hopefully, we encourage others with what we say.

In an ideal world, that would happen 24/7.

Unfortunately, we often do the opposite, and that can get us into a heap of trouble.

Has that ever happened to you?

Perhaps there was something you said that seemed okay, but resulted in an angry response or hurt feelings.

I know. It’s happened to me.

Foot In Mouth Syndrome

Thinking back years ago to when I was a television reporter, I’ll never forget the day the boss called me in for a reprimand.

I had just finished reporting live outside a courthouse in a nearby city.

Everything, I thought, had gone well. I reported the verdict, the attorney interviews, and a thorough account of what had taken place during the trial.

After the report, my cameraman and I packed up our equipment and headed back to the station so I could write an additional story for the next morning’s broadcast.

Thinking all was well, I got on the radio and called the assignment desk to say we were on our way back.

The assignment editor told me that the news director wanted to see me immediately when I came in.

I could tell something was up.

Say What?

I headed straight to the boss’s office when we got back.

“What’s wrong?” I said.

I sat down, and he closed the door.

My heart started to sink and I quickly searched my brain for what this could be about.

Hmm, not good.

I guess this is not about a raise?

The Power Of Words

Apparently, I said something in my report that made one of the news anchors mad.

“Huh?” I said. “All I did was state the facts.”

The news director wasn’t smiling.

Apparently, during the report, I began answering the anchor’s question with these four words, “As I said before…”

That was it.

Four words.

The simple phrase, “As I said before,” got me into big trouble.

I had to think back.

In my defense, I told the news director that I had already answered the anchor’s question in my report. I didn’t understand why he was bringing it up again.

It didn’t matter. Apparently, the anchor thought my four words made him look stupid.

Oops. It wasn’t intentional or meant to be mean, but I had screwed up.

Live And Learn

Four seemingly innocent words became another learning experience for me.

When I read through the Bible, I’m often struck by how often the apostle Peter stuck his foot in his mouth.

Remember this?

In Matthew 16:21-23:

*21From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”– Matthew 16:21-23, English Standard Version (ESV).

No matter what, we can and should learn from our mistakes.

It had to be awful for Peter to receive a direct, but well-deserved, rebuke from Christ.

After admonishing him, did Christ send Peter away from His presence forever?

No, He forgave him and used Peter for His glory.

I’m glad we have a God of second (and third, and fourth…) chances, aren’t you?

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